Hon. Chung Eui-yong, Co-Chairman of the Standing Committee and Secretary General of the ICAPP, visited Moscow during April 19-21, 2015. During his stay in Moscow, he had extensive meetings with the leaders of the United Russia Party, A Just Russia Party, and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. In addition, he had an extraordinary meeting with Hon. Igor Vladimirovich Morgulov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Russian Federation. Mr. Chung was accompanied by his assistant, Ms. Seojin Lee. Mr. Chung's program in Moscow is attached as Appendix I.

Mr. Chung had a meeting with Hon. Igor Vladimirovich Morgulov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, at his office in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 20. Hon. Andrey Klimov, Chairman of the International Department of the United Russia Party (URP) and Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate, was also present at the meeting.

At the meeting, Mr. Chung briefly gave an update on the activities of the ICAPP. He also extended his gratitude for the active participation in, and strong support for the ICAPP activities and programs, on the part of principal political parties in Russia, especially the URP, and the government of the Russian Federation. He particularly mentioned the great success of the 21st Meeting of the ICAPP Standing Committee, which was held in Vladivostok in May last year. Mr. Chung added that the ICAPP is very much looking forward to another successful meeting in Vladivostok, the ICAPP Special Conference on regional economic cooperation during May 21-23 this year.

Deputy Minister Morgulov warmly welcomed the ICAPP mission to Moscow and expressed his deep appreciation for what the ICAPP is striving to achieve: peace and stability in the region through frequent and regular dialogue among political leaders of different political ideologies and orientations from various countries. He highly recognized the unique nature of the ICAPP, its inclusiveness and openness, and mentioned that the government of the Russian Federation attaches great importance to the activities of the ICAPP and will provide any possible support for the success of the ICAPP in the future.

Mr. Morgulov said that Russia values the Asia Pacific region because it is geographically and physically part of the region. He further said that Russia wants to play a constructive and active role in the region to avoid new confrontational alliances, so that the region can establish a stable and prosperous community.

Mr. Chung briefed on the current state of deliberations on the item of granting observer status to the ICAPP in the U.N. General Assembly and requested for the continuous support of the Russian government. He handed to Mr. Morgulov an "aide-memoire" which was prepared by the ICAPP Secretariat. The aide-memoire is attached as Appendix II. Mr. Chung also requested the Russian government to consider joining the inter-governmental "MOU to provide assistance to ICAPP activities," which has so far been signed by nine countries, including China, Iran, Korea and Vietnam.

Minister Morgulov mentioned that the Russian government will fully support the ICAPP's bid to obtain observer status in the U.N. General Assembly. He also promised to give positive consideration to the request to sign the inter-governmental MOU, in view of the ICAPP's contributions to the promotion of understanding and stability in the region.

In this regard, it was noted that Hon. Konstantin Kosachev, Chairman of the Committee on the International Affairs of the Senate and Former ICAPP Standing Committee Member representing the URP, at the request of Mr. Chung, had directly contacted to Mr. Morgulov, asking for support for the ICAPP’s bid for observer status in the U.N. General Assembly.

After the meeting at the Foreign Ministry, Mr. Chung had a separate meeting with Mr. Andrey Klimov of the URP in the evening of April 20, and discussed how to further promote cooperation between the URP and the ICAPP. Mr. Chung expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation to the URP for its active support and participation in the ICAPP activities and for arranging the meeting with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Klimov responded that he was pleased that the meeting was constructive and fruitful and the URP would continue to coordinate with the ICAPP Secretariat for the successful outcome of the ICAPP’s efforts to obtain observer status in the U.N. General Assembly.

At the meeting, Mr. Klimov and Mr. Chung also finalized several arrangements for the ICAPP Special Conference to be held in Vladivostok during May 21-23, including the program, the list of speakers, election of Chairmen for Roundtable Discussions, procedures for B2B meetings, drafting of the “Vladivostok Statement on Regional Economic Cooperation’” etc.

Mr Chung also had a meeting on April 20 with Hon. Nikolai Levichev, Senior Leader of A Just Russia Party and Vice Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma, at his office in Duma. Mr. Boris Guseletov, Advisor on International Affairs was also present at the meeting. Mr. Chung, first of all, expressed his appreciation for the active participation in the ICAPP activities by A Just Russia Party, and requested for the party’s continuous support and participation.

Mr. Levichev confirmed his party’s plans to send representatives to the ICAPP Special Conference in Vladivostok, and other programs of the ICAPP this year, including the annual meeting of the ICAPP Women's Wing in Baku in September and the ICAPP Special Conference on Reviving Silk Road to be held in China later this year. He also expressed the willingness of his party to more fully engage in other activities of the ICAPP such as the Standing Committee. In this regard, Mr. Chung explained the recent amendment of the ICAPP Charter to encourage countries invited to the Standing Committee to be represented by two principal political parties of each country, and advised A Just Russia Party to have open consultations with the URP about this possibility.

Mr. Levichev expressed strong support for ICAPP's bid for observer status in the U.N. General Assembly, and said he would convey the position of A Just Russia Party on the issue to the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation through Deputy Minister Morgulov. Mr. Levichev also offered to co-host an ICAPP youth meeting in Sochi, Russia, this year with the Russian Youth Agency and the URP. (Mr. Chung welcomed the proposal, and later conveyed this request to the URP. The URP responded that it would have further consultations with A Just Russia Party on the proposal.

Mr. Levichev and Mr. Chung also had an exchange of views on a wide range of issues, including the recent international situation under the wave of global terrorism. They shared the view that increased dialogue among political leaders would be imperative in order to alleviate the international tension.

In this regard, Mr. Chung congratulated A Just Russia Party on its plan to host an international forum on the theme of "A Joint Answer to Global Challenges - the Path to a Just World." He also thanked Mr. Levichev for his kind invitation to attend and address the forum, and extended his apology for not being able to attend the event due to the overlap of schedules with the 2nd ICAPP Workshop on Human Trafficking. Nonetheless, at the request of Mr. Levichev, Mr. Chung addressed the forum participants through a congratulatory message, which was recorded as a video. This video message will be broadcasted at the opening session of the forum. The content of the message is attached as Appendix III.

Prior to his departure on April 21, Mr. Chung had a meeting with Hon. Leonid Ivanovich Kalashnikov, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma and Senior Leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, at his office in Duma. Mr. Kalashnikov appreciated the visit of the ICAPP mission to the Communist Party and confirmed that his party attaches great importance to the activities of the ICAPP. His party has demonstrated high-level participation by sending delegates to all the ICAPP General Assemblies since 2006.

Mr. Kalashnikov added that the Communist Party of Russia highly values, in particular, the unique nature of the ICAPP, which encourages the participation of political parties regardless of varying political ideologies, unlike other organizations formed of political parties. He also confirmed that his party will continue to participate in all major events of the ICAPP in the future.

Appendixes:

I.Program of the ICAPP Mission to Russia (2015)

II.Aide-memoire on the Issue of U.N. Observer Status

III.Congratulatory Message to the International Forum by A Just Russia Party